Updated Coal Map. Columbia River Gorge And Vancouver Would Be Devastated.

New information has revealed that ALL, that's right, ALL of the proposed 157 million tons per year of Powder River Coal* destined for six ports in Oregon and Washington and then on to China, would be transported on the Columbia river as well as on its northern and southern banks and will pass through either Vancouver or Portland. The Stevens Pass route in the north and Stampede Pass route in the center of Washington, in addition to capacity and tunnel factors, are both too steep to make it feasible to run loaded coal trains. It is possible that returning unloaded coal trains could take the Stampede Pass route.

The total amount of toxic chemicals emitted from diesel locomotives and towboats operating in the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area in 2004 was 33,653 tons.The World Health Organization recently declared diesel emissions to be carcinogenic.

This already dangerously high number, 33,653 tons, could potentially double to 67,306 tons of toxic diesel emissions annually should the proposed shipment of 157 million tons of coal on thousands and thousands of additional diesel locomotives and towboats be allowed to proceed. These amounts would be highly toxic if not deadly to plants, animals, fish and people.

Coal Dust Drift Along The Columbia River Coal Transport Routes
Toxic coal dust drift and carcinogenic diesel emissions from 9,964 loaded coal trains per year (27 coal trains per day) -- each a mile and a half long -- spewing pollution for decades along the Columbia River is going to have a catastrophic affect on our air, water and our Pacific Northwest jewel, the Columbia River Gorge. The amount of coal dust lost during transit is dependent upon many factors, type of coal, how it is loaded, condition of coal cars, route, weather etc. Whatever amount of coal dust that will spill from the coal cars by vibration, leaks, wind and rain - some will argue more, some less - it will be substantial and eventually effect every person, business and institution along its path in Portland, Vancouver and everywhere else.

The numbers for coal dust drift are staggering. I, and many others, have concluded that an estimate of coal loss per car per mile of 1 pound is reasonable. Some would say that is too high, some too low. For the sake of argument let's go very low and posit an inarguable coal loss per car per mile of 1 ounce.

Vancouver Coal Dust Drift25 coal trains, a mile and a half long, would pass through Vancouver every day. That is 3,125 coal cars per day. The equivalent of one coal train 38 miles long leaving behind a significant amount of toxic waste while passing through Vancouver every day for decades.

1,195 coal cars on the Bellingham route will travel 13 miles of Vancouver railroad tracks leaving a daily coal dust deposit, at one ounce per car per mile, of 970 pounds per day for decades.

125 coal cars on the Greys Harbor route will travel 13 miles of Vancouver railroad tracks leaving a daily coal dust deposit, at one ounce per car per mile, of 102 pounds per day for decades.

1,125 coal cars on the Longview route will travel 13 miles of Vancouver railroad tracks leaving a daily coal dust deposit, at one ounce per car per mile, of 914 pounds per day for decades.

750 coal cars on the Port Westward route will travel 10 miles of Vancouver railroad tracks leaving a daily coal dust deposit, at one ounce per car per mile, of468 pounds per day for decades.

The total coal dust deposit, at one ounce per car per mile, for the 3,195 coal cars traveling through Vancouver is 2,454 pounds per day for decades.

The total annual coal dust deposit, at one ounce per car per mile, for the 3,195 coal cars traveling through Vancouver is 895,710 pounds per year for decades. Remember, this is a very conservative low estimate of one once per car per mile. The reality is likely to be much higher, closer to one pound per car per mile which would be 14,339,025 pounds per year. Frightening.

Portland Coal Dust Drift8 coal trains, a mile and a half long, would pass through Portland every day. That is 1,000 coal cars per day. The equivalent of one coal train 12 miles long leaving behind a significant amount of toxic waste while passing through Portland every day for decades.

250 coal cars on the Coos Bay route will travel 25 miles of Portland railroad tracks leaving a daily coal dust deposit, at one ounce per car per mile, of 390 pounds per day for decades.

750 coal cars on the Port Westward route will travel 10 miles of Portland railroad tracks leaving a daily coal dust deposit, at one ounce per car per mile, of 468 pounds per day for decades.

The total coal dust deposit, at one ounce per car per mile, for the 1,000 coal cars traveling through Portland is 858 pounds per day for decades.

The total annual coal dust deposit, at one ounce per car per mile, for the 1,000 coal cars traveling through Portland is 313,170 pounds per year for decades. Remember, this is a very conservative low estimate of one once per car per mile. The reality is likely to be much higher, closer to one pound per car per mile which would be 5,010,720 pounds per year. Frightening.

Multnomah County Dust Drift8 coal trains, a mile and a half long, would pass through Multnomah county every day. That is 1,000 coal cars per day. The equivalent of one coal train 12 miles long leaving behind a significant amount of toxic waste while passing through Multnomah county every day for decades.

250 coal cars on the Coos Bay route will travel 60 miles of Multnomah county railroad tracks leaving a daily coal dust deposit, at one ounce per car per mile, of 938 pounds per day for decades.

750 coal cars on the Port Westward route will travel 18 miles of Multnomah county railroad tracks leaving a daily coal dust deposit, at one ounce per car per mile, of 844 pounds per day for decades.

The total coal dust deposit, at one ounce per car per mile, for the 1,000 coal cars traveling through Multnomah county is 1,782 pounds per day for decades.

The total annual coal dust deposit, at one ounce per car per mile, for the 1,000 coal cars traveling through Multnomah county is 650,430 pounds per year for decades. Remember, this is a very conservative low estimate of one once per car per mile. The reality is likely to be much higher, closer to one pound per car per mile which would be 10,406,880 pounds per year. Frightening.

Eugene Coal Dust Drift2 coal trains, a mile and a half long, would pass through Eugene every day. That is 250 coal cars per day. The equivalent of one coal train 3 miles long leaving behind a significant amount of toxic waste while passing through Eugene every day for decades

250 coal cars on the Coos Bay route will travel about 8 miles of Eugene railroad tracks leaving a daily coal dust deposit, at one ounce per car per mile, of 125 pounds per day for decades.

The total annual coal dust deposit, at one ounce per car per mile, for the 250 coal cars traveling through Eugene is 45,625 pounds per year for decades. Remember, this is a very conservative low estimate of one once per car per mile. The reality is likely to be much higher, closer to one pound per car per mile which would be 730,000 pounds per year. Frightening.

Port Morrow Coal Dust Drift
More than 72,750 coal cars would transfer coal to more than 5,333 barges annually at Port Morrow. Oregon's Department of Environmental Quality estimates that 13,600 pounds of coal dust would be emitted annually during these transfers.

What You Can Do
Please join the North Portland Coal Committee for an impromptu No Coal Demonstration during President Obama's fundraiser at the Portland Art Museum on Tuesday July 24th from 11 AM to 2 PM.

The massive amounts of coal proposed to be shipped through Oregon and Washington to China that are mined in the Powder River Basin belong to us, American citizens, NOT coal companies. We, American taxpayers, subsidize coal companies that strip mine and plan to export coal to China.

President Obama, HAS THE POWER TO STOP all of the proposed shipments of coal through the Pacific Northwest on its way to China from the Powder River Basin.

Unless the area is closed off, we will assemble at 11 AM in the park blocks in front of the Portland Art Museum. Bring a sign, water and snacks. The area will most certainly be inaccessible to any motorized vehicle (bicycle?) so plan on a good walk to get there.

Please go here http://www.goodgrowthnw.org or http://www.facebook.com/NorthPortlandCoalCommittee for updates on time, place and any other relevant information. You may also contact bonnie@goodgrowthnw.org.